Desk tray



Feb. 3, 1953 E. F. THOMSON DESK TRAY Filed Oct. 19. 1949 .ErzaZ y I N VEN TOR. fii'wss 7" fiiaarlclr 7/7aMso/v, B Y

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ATTORNEYS- Patented Feb. 3, 1953 DESK TRAY Ernest Frederick Thomson, Tuckahoe, N. Y., assignor to The Globe-Wernicke 00., Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 19, 1949, Serial No. 122,207

2 Claims.

It is another object of the invention to provide I a desk tray as outlined above which can be locked in either desired position of adjustment so that it will not accidentally be opened to its larger capacity when it has been positioned for letter size and vice versa.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention which will be pointed out more in detail hereinafter or which will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon reading these specifications are accomplished by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which the following is a description by way of example.

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a desk tray according to the invention adjusted for letter size.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the same taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the tray adjusted for legal size.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the same taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the same.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view on an enlarged scale showing the device set for letter size.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the same taken on the line 88 of Figure 7 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but showing the device set for legal size, and

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the connector member.

Briefly, in the practice of the invention, there are provided two substantially identical half portions and a connecting portion slidably associated with both half portions. When the tray is set for letter size paper the two half portions together constitute the entire visible portion of the tray. If it is desired to set the tray for legal size papers, the two half portions are pulled apart, each slidmg no and by the partial finger access notches l4.

ing in relation to the connector portion up to a stop and the two half portions may be locked to the connector portion in either the letter size or legal size position. The side and end walls of the tray and the bottom are provided with finger access openings and the two half portions meet on the longitudinal sides of the tray in the region of the finger access portions so that the appearance of a break in the construction is avoided, since the break appears in the form of a finger access opening, which when the tray is set for letter size, is of the same size as the finger access opening at the ends of the tray and which when the tray is set for legal size, is somewhat larger than the finger access openings in the end walls.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the two half portions of the tray are indicated generally at it) and II. In describin the details of each of the half portions only one will be described, and it will be understood that the other is identical. Each comprises a bottom panel 12 which is generally rectangular in plan view. The rectangular configuration of the portion I2 is modified by the finger access notch l3 It will be understood that when the partial notches M of the two half portions are in assembled positions they will together make a finger access notch similar in configuration to the notch l3. Extending from the edges of the notch l3 to the edges of the notches M are the side wall members [5. It will be observed that the wall portions l5 extend downwardly below the bottom portion l2 so as to space the same above the supporting surface. Foot members l6 may be provided at the four corners of the tray, if desired. On its under side each half member is provided with two guide rails comprising a downwardly extending web IT and an inwardly turned flange 18 which is spaced from the bottom member I2 as best seen in Figures 3 and 8. The half members may be provided with the strengthening webs, I9, 20, 2|, if desired. It will be understood that these half members may be made of sheet metal or die cast light metal, plastic, wood or other suitable material.

To hold the two half members in assembled relation I provide a connector member as shown in Figure 10 and indicated generally in the other figures at 22. Each of the half members I!) and II has sliding engagement with the connector member 22 so that the two half members may be spaced apart any desired distance and are lgeld in spaced relation by the connector mem- In the particular embodiment shown the connector member comprises a sheet metal panel having longitudinal side flanges 23 and end flanges 24. The side flanges 23 are inturned to provide the flanges 25 which are so spaced in relation to the panel 22 that the connector member fits with a sliding fit between the bottom panel 12 of thetrayand the guide rail flanges 18 as.

best seenin Figures 3 and 8.

The flanges 25, as best seen in Figure 10, are

provided with a series of notches defining tabs; which may be bent out of the plane of the flange 25 to provide stops or locks as desired. Thus, after the two half portions of the tray areassembled together on the connector member, the: tabs 26 (Figure 10) may be bent slightly out' tabs 21:. may: likewise ;be bent out of the. plane of theflange; 25 and these tales will then abut the innerredges of theguide rail flanges i8 and prevent: the two half portions from being pushed toward each other. The tray is thus locked in its:- expanded: condition.

If it. is desired to lock the tray in its closed positionv for use with letter size paper, then the tabs,;28 maybebent out of the plane of; the guide. railflange; 2,55 and they will abut the outeredges of thegui'derailflanges; [8 instead of the tabs 28. It. will, be observed that when the tray is in its; closedi position for use withletter size paper, as; seen: in Figures. 1, 2 and [,the appearance of" the: tray is wholly symmetrical in that the two adjacent flngenaccess notches, M together provide: a: finger access notch, of substantially the same size andshape as the notch l-3.. When the tray; is; open. to its expanded condition for use.

withlegal size; paper, as seen inFigures 4; 5,, 6.

and. 9;,the' eifect of symmetry is not destroyedbut, is only; modified in that the adjacent partial finger: access notches M: together. form; an en.--

largedfinger access notch without. destroying that-pleasing, appearance of the. tray and without; giving; the; appearance of a' break. inthe. con'-- structiom. The. only dificrenee inthe-e -panded condition: overthe closed condition is,- that theadjacentedgesgof: the-fingeraccessnotehes M; are farther apart.v and-.themotches. look larger-.1

The connector member 22 is preferably made of sheet metal since plastic parts will slide more readily in contact with sheet metal than with other similar parts.

It will be clear that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and that I therefore do not intend to: limit myself in. any manner; other than as set forth'in the claims which follow.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A desk tray comprising two substantially identicalihalf' portions, each of said half portions -having along opposed bottom edges thereof parallel guide rails, a connector portion having channel-like. edges slidably engaged with said guide rails of both half portions, said channellike edges being slotted to define bendable tabs between said slots, certain of said tabs when bent being: engageable with one end of said guide rails, and: others. of said tabs when. bent being engageablewith: the other: end of saidguide-raila.

to lock said halfv portionsinia desired positionof adjustment;

2; A. desk tray comprising two substantially identicalhaif: portions, each oi saidhalf; portions;

having along opposedbottom edges-thereof paral. lel' guiderails of a length" lessthan thelengthzof said half portions, a connectorportionv having;

channels-like; edges slidably' engagedi with: said guide rails. of. both: half portions, saidachannellike edgesbeing siotted to. define. bendable. tabs.

between; said; slots,. there. being. tabs. on said; conhector portion adjacent the outer. ends of. said guide rails when said half portions areabutted.

together; tabs adjacent. the outer ends ofi said connector portionto definethe limit of separation. of said half: portions; and; other tabs; ad-

jacent; the inner ends of; said guide rails when said halt. portions are extended: totheir limit oiv separation.

ERNEST. FREDERICK THO'MSQN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references: are, of. record. in. the file-of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS? Number Name Date.

709,150! Halls- Sept. 1 6,,1902 876,235 Quackenboss.- .Jan..'7, 1908.

1,951.,932: Eraser-1 Mar; 20,1934 2,369,728 Farkas; Feb, 20,, 1945. 

